How to add static or animated text to your animation

First let's open your animation in Ulead Gif Animator if you haven't done so yet.

As you could see, the animation here has two frames, if it would have had more frames it would be the same step so doesn't matter how many frames you have.

We are going to start with the static text here, meaning a none animated text.

Now, we need to expand our canvas to be able to add our text underneat of our image.

We will go on the top bar, click on edit and then choose Canvas size, a new window will open.

We have to remember that our sigtag (Signature Tag) should not exceed a total of 250 pixels, we could be very well under, no problem with that.

Our animated image is 123 x 88 pixels that gives us a total of 211 pixels. So if we substract 211 pixels from 250 pixels, we have left 39 pixels to play with. We don't need that much since we only going to add one line text.

For our new size, we are going to add 30 pixels. We will unchecked the keep ratio cause we only want to expand at the bottom.

We need to select the sizing reference, as you could see on the left here, the blue little square is our image, since we want to expand at the bottom for our text, we will choose the top middle one.

Click ok.

As you could see here, our canvas size has expand at the bottom where we wanted to add our text. If we would have wanted our text on left, right or top, we would have choosen our sizing reference accordingly.

To have our text color to match our image, I choose the color picker tool and color pick on my image, you could zoom in to help you choose your color if you want.

Next Choose the text tool and click inside your image.

The text window will open. Click on the color box and choose foreground color, the color you have choosen should apear. Unless it is the background color you want for your text.

Type in your nick names or what ever text you would like. Highlight your text, now choose the font you would like, and set the size.

Click on preview. You will see how it does look like.

Well I don't like this one to much with this particular image, so I'm going to check other font and set size again.

Ok here I am, Decided to go with the Cac Krazy Legs Bolds and did keep size 20. Once satisfied click ok.

Now we need to position our text. Click on the pick tool, I did freehand position, by moving how far from the bottom I wanted to have the text, and then selected the horizontal to have it centered.

Now, that we have our text position in our 1:Frame we need to have the same exact position for our other frames as well, doesn't matter if you have more than 2 frames, always the same step and only once.

While we still have our text selected, let's choose object manager command and select Synchronize Objects Across Frames...

A new window will open.

As you could see, our source image is in 1:Frame.

Now I have all objects selected, it is ok since it won't affect my other objects to leave it as is. But there will be time that you would need to choose active object(s) only, so only that object will be synchronize.

I did keep the following attributes.

The apply to, very important that you apply to all frames, cause we want the same position for our text to be the same in all of our frames.

Click ok.

Now, let's see what did happen here. Click on 2:Frame to select it.

Let's look to your Object manger panel, as you could see our text in hide on the 2:Frame, we will need to make it visible. Just click inside the empty box and an eye will appear.

This is what you should now have.

And if you look at the edit image, you will see that your text is now showing.

Let's say, that you are not please with the text you have, either it is for the font, size, or color. Just right click on your text image and choose edit text to do so.

But instead of the edit text, let's try the Neon... This will bring out the text more, so if we have a dark or light background it will still show up nicely.

Well yes, you get a nice little window that open for us to try out a few options. Fun hey.

Ok, let's see about the Direction. Choose Inside. Set the Width smaller, I choose 3, cause we don't want our glow to fall out of our canvas, we want to keep it within.

Make sure you have a check in the preview so you will see what it look like in your edit image window. Cool hey.

Let's look at the Direction: Both Sides, this one is better, it all depends of the type of Font you did choose and what you like, really the choice is yours.

But I'm still going to check to other one.

Oh Great, this one I like best, the Direction: Outside.

Yep, definitely better. Once you are satisfied click ok.

This is what it look like with the neon text. I also thing the colors match pretty nicely with the image as well. Oh there is also other color combination you could use from the image and will look pretty good too, just a matter of taste of what you prefer.

This is it for the static text. click on Preview, then if you are please click on optimaize and save your animation as a transparent gif with a different naming of your choice.

Now we are ready to learn how to add an animated text to our animation.

Cool, you are following me. If you still have your animated static open, select your text in your Object Manager Panel and deleted it. So now we only have our animated image we had from the start.

If you have close your UGA5,(Ulead Gif Animator) open it and open your animated image.

To add an animated text in Ulead Gif Animator we are going to use banner text. Choose Frame on the top bar and choose Add Banner Text...

Yep, a new window will open, UGA5 has a lots of those little windows. We are going to spend some time in here, just going to show you some basic and the rest is up to you to experiment with it and try it all.

This is what you have on the left when your window open. Where it is written sample, this is where your text is.

We sure don't want to have it there for our sigtag.

So just click on the sample text and position it lower under the image.

Now, we will see better what we are doing.

This time, I did choose a different Font from the static one and choose Dancing Let, you could choose what ever you like.

Set the size as well, you could add shadow if you want too, but keep in mind that your shadow size has to stay within your canvas.

I didn't put any shadow cause I wanted to add some Neon on my text.

If you want to add some Neon to your text, click the Neon tab. As before for the static text, set the Direction you want, This time here, I did choose Outside again, but change my width to 2 and did keep the yellow color and did select the Glow.

Now the fun begin, Select the Effect tab.

You have an Enter Scene, this is where you choose the effect you want to start with.

Then you have the Exit Scene, this is where you choose the effect you want to end with. Easy.

Under each scene you have how many frames for each effect you choose. We will leave as is.

For mine, I did choose Still for the enter Scene and for the Exit scene I did choose Fade, now click on Start Preview to see what happen. Clcik on stop Preview, you could try other effect here too. But for the tutorial here choose same as mine, you could go back later on to experiment more.

Under the Frame Control tab, this is where you set the Delay Time and the Key Frame delay. I did leave it as is.

But be sure to check Distribute to frames.

Once you are satisfied with your setting click ok, then Create as Banner Text (Recommanded).

This is what we now have if we preview our animation in the preview tab window. Well, it is cool but.... as you could see she start talking on 1:Frame and stop talking on 2:Frame and only start again when the animation start over at 1:frame.

What happen here when we add our banner text, it did add the extra frames for the text but only kept the last frame properties for it.

We want to keep her talking while our text effect are in action here, very easy to do, let me show you how.

Ad you remembered, we had two frames to start with, 1:Frame, she has her mouth open and 2:Frame her mouth is close.

So we need to have the same pattern going on to the rest of our frames.

Select the 3:Frame, then in your Object Manager Panel, click object 2 it will hide your object, and click object 1 to view your object.

On 4:Frame the mouth should be close same as 2:Frame.

On 5:Frame the mouth should be open same as 1:Frame.

Keep going like this until the last frame. Once done click on preview.

This is what we now have, much better now, unless you want to shut her up while you text effect is playing....hahahaha!!!

Once satisfied, optimize and save as transparent gif unless you did add a background to it and save as with a different naming.

Now Let's have some fun, experiment with it.

Tips and hints:

If you did made an animated text image and want to combined both the two animation together, make sure that you will stay within the limits for the sigtag which is a total of 250 pixels. To learn how to do this if you haven't learn how yet, you could try this tutorial How to combine animated images together.

How to post your sigtag on the PhotoImpact International Board check the FAQ here.

Show off your sigtag, you are welcome to show your sigtag animation in the animation forum since we have an anime forum this is the best place to show it off.

If you did make a Static sigtag, you could show it, in the show and tell.

And last, you could show your sigtag in the sigtag forum as well, you are welcome to make blank sigtag to share on the PhotoImpact International Siggie Bank.

Don't forget to show result at PhotoImpact International, I would love to see it.

If you are not a member, you just have to register, it is free.

Hope you did learn something new and had as much fun as I did had to write the tutorial for you. If you need help you could always contact me.

Don't forget to grab your award.